HIBERNOMA - CASE-REPORT AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

BACKGROUND. Hibernoma is a rare type of benign tumor that originates i n brown fat. It has been rarely described in dermatologic literature. OBJECTIVE. To report and discuss the clinical and histologic features of a patient with hibernoma and review the relevant literature. PATIEN T. A large palpable hibernoma located in the interscapular area of a 4 1-year-old female teas identified by physical examination. The tumor w as a brown soft mass measuring 7.0 x 6.0 x 3.0 cm that involved subcut aneous tissue and was embedded in the trapzius muscle. It was a well e ncapsulated and highly vascular tumor. Histologic examination revealed characteristic multivacuolated oval and polygonal cells with eosinoph ilic, granular cytoplasm. CONCLUSION. A hibernoma can be diagnosed on the basis of gross physical characteristics and microscopic findings. This is a benign tumor with no malignant potential. Excisional biopsy is indicated to differentiate hibernoma from well-differentiated lipos arcoma. Complete excision is the treatment of choice. (C) 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.